The Bible declares that though sins may be as red as scarlet, they do not block God’s forgiveness (Isaiah 1:18). It’s crucial to address the underlying issues preventing humanity from embracing God’s mercy. Humans, known to have strayed, are still God’s children. God recognizes humanity’s waywardness, yet humanity appears to remain oblivious to its own state. An average person may not grasp this waywardness’s full meaning and significance. Possibly, one of the most misinterpreted Scripture is in Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:16-21 NKJV).
Jesus conversed with Nicodemus, who, despite his eagerness to understand, could not comprehend the gravity of his misguided condition. To an astute observer, this particular Scripture captures everything vital to grasp about Christianity. One might be tempted to suggest neglecting the teachings of other Gospel Books in favour of focusing solely on the profundity of this highlighted Scripture. If Nicodemus had understood and adhered to Jesus’ teachings, it’s highly likely he would have achieved salvation in his lifetime. For Nicodemus, it wasn’t about following Jesus per se, but rather applying the lessons from that specific dialogue.
Nicodemus needed to trust Jesus’ words that day, to embrace His illuminating teachings. Consequently, he would have no difficulty grasping all that Jesus imparted. The concept of being ‘born again’ implies a rejection of the physical self, which does not align with the divine. Nicodemus would have recognized that his physical existence was a state of deviation. Humanity’s foremost challenge is to confront the physical nature, which demands urgent abandonment, to embrace filiation with God. Rebirth necessitates discarding the old, rooted in the physical, allowing the new to flourish.
For a new seedling to emerge, a seed must be planted in the soil. While the sprouting of a seedling is not equivalent to rebirth into eternal life, it serves as a metaphor for the concept of rebirth into eternity. Jesus taught that eternal life could be attained through faith in His teachings, as He embodied the unique Father of humanity, unbound by the physical realm. In a world entangled in sin, God remains fully aware of humanity’s flawed nature, while humanity is completely unaware of its own fallen condition. Radical transformation necessitates laying the old to rest so that the new may thrive.
Pretending to be superior or inferior to others is a waste of time. If God loved a sinful world like ours, why would anyone consider themselves forsaken? The term “whosoever” is an interrogative pronoun that implies unconditional redemption for all humanity. In essence, attaining salvation does not require one to be a law-keeper, educated, foolish, or intelligent; it simply requires belief in Jesus as the embodiment of divinity. To be born again means to embrace God’s spiritual nature, transcending the physical state.
Being created in God’s image implies a distinction between us and God: God is spiritual, while we are physical. Jesus clarified this when He stated, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” These two are dichotomies, irreconcilable as one. Therefore, anyone who follows the teachings of Jesus forsakes the flesh to embrace the Spirit. Nicodemus posed a critical question: “How can someone be born when they are old?” He further inquired, “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” (John 3:4).
The challenge facing humanity is the inability to perceive spiritual identity. For those grounded in physical existence, living as a spiritual being seems unachievable. They regard the spirit as insubstantial and the physical state as significant, despite the reality being the contrary. The spiritual state is indeed substantial, as it contrasts with the transience of the physical realm. It’s debatable whether those whose physical bodies last up to a hundred years are fortunate. Jesus’ physical existence lasted only thirty-three and a half years. Can someone whose body endures a century consider themselves more blessed than Jesus?
Only those who understand that true value resides in the spirit, rather than the physical form, can diminish the importance of the physical body. This was the essence of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, which implied the renunciation of the physical body to embrace the Spiritual body through the teachings of Jesus. Jesus did not imply committing suicide, but rather offering one’s body to Jesus as a prerequisite for embracing the Spiritual body. This should not be naively considered easy; it is as challenging as Jesus Himself emphasized.
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Luke 14:26-35 NKJV).
The challenge lies not in disbelieving what Jesus taught. The assumption that substance is carried by the physical is a significant barrier to achieving salvation. If Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, found these teachings challenging, it stands to reason that an ordinary person might struggle even more. Ensnared by the physical realm, one might believe that without a physical body, they would cease to exist. Yet, being dead is a state that can only be described in relation to the physical body. This is why Jesus told a potential disciple mired in this dilemma, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead” (Matthew 8:21-22).
What Jesus proposed relates entirely to transcending the physical limitations. Regardless of the value one places on physical health, it does not define true vitality. Similarly, the accumulation of material wealth is ultimately insignificant. Living to a hundred years does not inherently mean one has lived more fully than someone who has only lived for twenty years. The real distinction is in being ‘born again,’ which entails embracing a relationship with God as His child. Thus, how can one be ‘born again’ if their awareness remains fixed in the physical realm? Spiritual communion is unattainable without aligning with Jesus—therefore, Jesus is Lord.
Faith in Jesus transcends mere acceptance of His physical existence. It is crucial to trust in all that He proclaimed. His sacrifice on the cross empowers us to willingly commit our physical bodies to Him, rendering the fear of death inconsequential. At the heart of it, one cannot simultaneously cherish Christ and the physical body. To dedicate one’s body to Christ signifies readiness for martyrdom. The true measure of love for someone or something is the readiness to lay down one’s life for them. Absent this level of dedication, love cannot be said to exist.
The physical body is drawn to things that result in misery and death, whereas spiritual pursuits lead to joy and eternity. True happiness, even in this life, depends on the readiness to abandon the physical for the sake of following Christ. A person fixated on worldly gains cannot find lasting happiness. Worldly possessions are unpredictable, and the joy they bring is equally unsustainable. This happiness may outlast others’, but it will end, regardless of one’s desires. The Apostle Paul also emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the physical and the spiritual.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:16-26 NIV)
Envy is often the root that entrenches a person in sinfulness. Commonly, it is envy that draws a person towards certain sinful behaviours. Humans naturally desire to surpass others in intelligence and abilities. Yet, it is impossible to achieve everything others do, as each individual is endowed with unique talents and abilities. Ignorant of this fact, a person may become consumed by envy, which propels them towards various vices, as outlined above. Conversely, a person guided by the Holy Spirit does not entertain such desires but instead finds greater happiness in the achievements of others, without introversion.
This characterizes a person who understands the importance of being made in God’s image and recognizes the diminished human potential due to sin. Such an individual refrains from judging others based on their circumstances, acknowledging their unrealized potential. Only a liberated person can discern the plight of sinful bondage afflicting their peers. A person with this awareness cannot envy those who are unaware of eternity’s value. Thus, it becomes apparent that human suffering stems from ignorance of their origins, which Jesus came to disclose.
Numerous factors can deter a person from believing in Jesus, thus hindering the appreciation of God’s mercy. The Pharisees faced the challenge of adhering to the law. They judged themselves superior to those who could not maintain the law as effectively. They believed that forgiveness necessitated strict compliance with the Law, even while being bound to worldly desires. They failed to recognize that such desires conflict with the Spirit. Their focus on legalism only distanced them from God’s mercy.
Regrettably, adherence to the law fostered pride, which is central to a sinful state. It is unfeasible for someone to meticulously follow the law while also preserving their physical nature. The only flawless method of law observance is to sacrifice one’s physical life for friends. This was demonstrated by Jesus, who then instructed His disciples to emulate Him, setting the benchmark for upholding the law. God’s Law is of a spiritual nature, rendering it unattainable to keep without relinquishing one’s physical existence. God’s law is the embodiment of love, which cannot be applied without making sacrifices for others.
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:14-16 NKJV).
Applying the aforementioned Scripture is not feasible to physical humans, as it would imply equating oneself with a contemptible individual. Consider Jesus comparing Himself to Barabbas, the most notorious criminal of that era. Why should anyone claim to be Christian if they cannot emulate Jesus, especially in the act of sacrificing one’s life for sinners? There are two likely motives for such behavior. The first is ignorance, where an individual naively believes they are pleasing God by adhering to their own standards of righteousness. The second is sheer arrogance, where an individual prizes the status they hold in this life.
Nothing can be done for the arrogant, but there is a plea for the ignorant to heed Paul’s warning: “Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 NKJV). The most perilous state is to make assumptions without proper scrutiny. A person might not be arrogant but could still be venturing into perilous territory due to ignorance. Considering life’s brevity, with no certainty of one’s final day, the importance of vigilance cannot be overstated.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99